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One of the three companions who stood curiously gazing at the new witness as he came into full view of the court had seen him before. Lauriston, who, during his residence in Paddington, had wandered a good deal about Maida Vale and St. John's Wood, instantly recognized Dr. Mirandolet as a man whom he had often met or passed in those excursions and about whom he had just as often wondered.
"I hear you say at that inquest as how you'd lived in the East?" "Yes!" replied Mirandolet. "Many years. India Burmah China!" "You know these Easterns, mister, and their little way?" suggested Melky. "Now, would it be too much I don't want to get no professional information, you know, if it ain't etiquette! but would it be too much to ask you if them folks is pretty good hands at poisoning?"
But before he could get out a word, Mirandolet spoke, seizing the mortuary-keeper by the arm in his eagerness. "You let that man a Japanese see the dead Chinaman alone?" he demanded. "Why, of course!" the attendant answered surlily. "He'd Mr. Ayscough's card, and " Mirandolet dropped the man's arm and threw up his own long white hands. "Merciful Powers!" he vociferated.
Gentleman outside would like a word with you, if you please, sir." Ayscough picked up his hat and walked out there, waiting a little way down the corridor, an impressive figure in his big black cloak and wide- brimmed hat, stood Dr. Mirandolet. He strode forward as the detective advanced. "I heard you were here, so I came up," he said, leading Ayscough away.
"Have you formed any opinion of your own as to the cause of this man's death?" "Yes!" agreed the witness, unhesitatingly. "I have! I believe him to have been poisoned in a most subtle and cunning fashion. And" here Dr. Mirandolet cast a side-glance at the knot of men behind him "I shall be intensely surprised if that opinion is not corroborated.
Now, I could have sworn " He broke off, and hurried after Mirandolet who had stridden ahead. "Here we are, doctor," he said, as they came to the door of the mortuary. "There's a man on night duty here, so there's no difficulty about getting in." There was a drawing of bolts, a turning of keys; the door opened, and a man looked out and seeing Ayscough and Dr.
"It evidently struck you that curious odour?" said the Coroner. "Yes," answered Dr. Mirandolet. "It did. It reminded me of the East I have lived in the East India, Burmah, China. It seemed to me that this man had got hold of some Eastern scent, and possibly spilt some on his clothes. The matter is worth noting. Because I have heard I cannot say I have known of men being poisoned in inhalation."
The Coroner glanced at the little knot of professional men in the rear of the witness-box and seemed to be debating within himself as to whether he wanted to ask Dr. Mirandolet any more questions. Eventually he turned again to him. "What your evidence amounts to, Dr. Mirandolet, is this," he said.
We examined the man for a minute; then I ran to fetch Dr. Mirandolet, whose surgery is close by there. I found him in; he came at once, and immediately ordered the man's removal to the hospital. The policeman got help, and the man was taken off. Dr. Mirandolet went with him. I returned home." No questions of any importance were asked of Mr.
"You were called to the man and you saw at once that you yourself could do nothing for him, so you got him away to the hospital as quickly as you possibly could. Just so! now, why did you think you could do nothing for him?" "I will tell you in plain words," answered Dr. Mirandolet. "Because I did not recognize or understand one single symptom that I saw!
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